“The Comfort of Peace”
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.” II Thess. 3:16
“I’ve come that you might have peace; not as the world gives but that only I can give.” Jn. 14:27
“I will give peace to the one who’s mind is fixed on me.” Is. 26:3
“The peace of God will transcend all understanding and guard your hearts and minds.” Phil. 4:7
“Blessed are the Peace Makers for they will be called the children of God.” Matt. 5:9
They say that a human’s greatest desire is to have and obtain peace. And, most psychologist would tell us that mankind’s desire to have peace falls into one or more of these categories: (1) Peace with God. (2) Peace with one’s self. (3) And Peace with others. Over the next five weeks I want to share with you practicalities on how to make and obtain peace in these three categories. Week 1 will be: Face It! You can’t fix what you won’t face. Week 2 will be: Fix It! Fix what needs to be fixed, but keep the main thing the main thing and don’t get distracted with what doesn’t matter. Week 3 will be: Forfeit It! Sometimes you have to forfeit your feelings! If you don’t forfeit what you feel and deal with reality, you will end up frustrated and fatigued in your pursuit for peace. Week 4 will be: Find It! Sometimes you have to find a way to make it work, so that you can work it out. Week 5 will be: Forget It! It is one thing to forgive, but sometimes you need to forget about it in order to have peace!
> Let’s look at week 1:
How Do You Strive to Make Peace?
You can’t fix what you won’t face.
12 Ways to Face It!
- Ask God for wisdom and a way.
- Make the first move if no one is else is moving and you feel impressed to move.
- Don’t wait on someone else to make the first move; especially if you are the one in the wrong.
- Don’t accuse or excuse.
- Don’t build hateful or hurtful opinions when you don’t know all the facts.
- Don’t wait until it’s too late.
- Know that sometimes the only thing you can do is keep the peace; but don’t let it steal your joy or peace in the process.
- Realize making peace is not contingent upon you alone.
- Focus on the person more than the problem.
- Focus on reconciliation more than being right.
- Stop talking and start listening.
- Quit confessing what needs to be forgotten.
Peace is an atmosphere that is produced by proper patterns that embodies a Spirit-Led and Christ-Centered life.
To be a peace-maker means that you produce peace in situations, circumstances and in the lives of others by giving what you have received from God first.
Sometimes you have to face it to fix it, but sometimes you have to release it to receive true peace.
